Hypericum plant named ‘Seideep’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hypericum  plant named ‘Seideep’, characterized by its large, dark burgundy-colored fruit, yellow-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Hypericum androsaemum.

Variety denomination: ‘Seideep’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHypericum plant botanically known as Hypericum androsaemum, usedcommercially as stems with fruit and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Seideep’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inElmshorn, Germany during July 2001. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Hypericum cultivars with unique and largeattractive fruit coloration.

The new Hypericum cultivar is the result of open-pollination using abulk of proprietary female and male Hypericum androsaemum parent plants,not patented, characterized by large brown-colored berries or smallberries ranging in color from red to pink. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated open-pollination during June 2002 in a controlledenvironment at Elmshorn, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJune 2002 at Elmshorn, Germany and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Seideep’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Hypericum plant:

-   -   1. Yellow-colored flowers;    -   2. Large, dark burgundy-colored fruit.    -   3. Dark, green-colored foliage; and    -   4. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in fruit size and coloration.

Of the many commercially available Hypericum cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is‘Excellent Flair’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Excellent Flair’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of        ‘Excellent Flair’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a different leaf color than        plants of ‘Excellent Flair’;    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences than        plants of ‘Excellent Flair’; and    -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have larger fruit than plants of        ‘Excellent Flair’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Seideep’. Theplants were grown outdoors in 2-gallon size pots for 25 weeks at ArroyoGrande, Calif.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of flowers, fruits, and the overallgrowth habit of ‘Seideep’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flower of ‘Seideep’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the fruit of ‘Seideep’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Aug. 18, 2004 between10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in Elmshorn,Germany when outdoor temperatures typically range from 82° F. (28° C.)during the day to 53° F. (12° C.) at night.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants grown in anoutdoor nursery in Elmshorn, Germany and under commercial productionpractices. Plants were about two years old.

-   Botanical classification: Hypericum androsaemum cultivar Seideep.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—A proprietary mix of Hypericum androsaemum            plants, not patented.        -   Male parent.—A proprietary mix of Hypericum androsaemum            plants, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 21 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 2 months.        -   Root description.—Fine, white.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. Height of entire            root structure: Approximately 50 cm. Diameter of entire root            structure: Approximately 100 cm.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Erect, perennial, woody shrub; broad, inverted            triangle.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, dense bushy.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 65 cm. Width: Approximately 50 to 60 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of lateral            branches per plant: Approximately 25. Quantity of            harvestable stems per year per plant: Approximately 19,            production of stems increases with age of plant and remains            constant after three years of growth.        -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Length:            Approximately 70 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length            of central internode: Approximately 7.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color of mature stem: Between 177A and 177B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 50. Form: Simple, sessile. Arrangement:            Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Oval to lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 7.3 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.6 cm. Texture of upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color            of upper surface of young foliage: 144A with venation of            144C. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 138B with            venation of 144C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            139A with venation of 144C. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: 147B with venation of 144C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Seideep’ flowers throughout the summer            under outdoor growing conditions and produces harvestable            cut stems with fruit beginning in August; flowering period            typically lasts about 60 days.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            14 days.        -   Lastingness of individual flower as a cut            flower.—Approximately 12 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Compound umbel, not persistent.            Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 6 to 8.            Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 5.0 cm.            Width: Approximately 5.0 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Approximately 45° angle            from stem. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A            with an overlay of 183C.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Aspect: Upright. Quantity            per lateral stem: Approximately 50.        -   Bud.—Shape: Ovoid. Quantity per lateral stem:            Approximately 50. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Color: 14A.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.8 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, nonimbricate. Shape: Oval. Appearance:            Flat. Aspect: Slightly concave. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm.            Width: Approximately 9.6 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface when            first open: 13A. Color of lower surface when first open:            12A. Color of upper surface when fully open: 13A. Color of            lower surface when fully open: 13B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Divergate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, nonimbricate. Shape: Oval.            Appearance: Flat. Margin: Entire. Apex: Apiculate. Base:            Broadly cunerate. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface of immature and            mature sepals: 144A. Color of lower surface of immature and            mature sepals: 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Approximately 45° angle            from stem. Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter: 1.5 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A with an overlay of            183C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity:            Approximately 85. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:            Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color: 17C. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 3            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Stigma            shape: Globular. Stigma color: 59A. Style length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 150C. Ovary color: 150B.        -   Fruit.—Type: Capsule. Taste: Bitter. Shape: Ellipsoidal.            Quantity per lateral branch: Approximately 50. Quantity per            plant: Greater than 500. Days to ripening: Approximately 10            days to color and 30 days to seed. Longevity on plant:            Approximately 30 days. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 183A.        -   Seed.—Quantity per fruit: Typically more than 100. Length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 200D.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Hypericum have been    observed to be resistant to rust.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Hypericum have been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from −10° C. to 35° C., and to    demonstrate tolerance to rain and wind effects.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant named ‘Seideep’,substantially as herein shown and described.